Rafael Alfonso
Rafael Alfonso is beyond thrilled to return to the TEDxMarshallU stage, this time as a speaker rather than the co-host. Originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, he’s crossed state borders to come to Marshall and double major in computer science and creative writing. After (hopefully) graduating this upcoming May, Rafael plans to pursue a career in web development, game design, or any of the other more visual domains of the tech world. For now, though, he’d love to thank all of his friends and family for both their support and inspiration in crafting his talk.
Jessica Frey
Dr. Jessica Frey is an assistant professor and movement disorders specialist working at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. She is the movement disorder fellowship program director and specializes in Deep Brain Stimulation procedures for patients with Parkinson’s disease and tremor. Her main areas of research include non-invasive neuromodulation such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Tourette Syndrome. She is also the course director for the neurology residency education track and the co-course director for the neurology residency global health program.
Dene Grigar
Dene Grigar had a problem to solve. She wanted to make unique artifacts she had collected available online to the public in a way that visitors could understand their cultural and historical significance. So, she built a virtual space where physical artifacts have become interactable, 3D objects via keyboard and mouse or a VR headset. Her interest in the virtual world began, however, long before the Web. Playing in Multi-User Domains and similar technologies in the early 1990s, she later shifted to multimedia performances in networked motion-tracking labs that resembled the interior of a Holodeck. Since the 2010s she has led the development of Virtual and Augmented Reality environments for museums and science centers and specialized in preserving and conserving digital art. Her current projects include exploring the future of reading and writing in Extended Reality spaces and building an open-access, virtual museum-library to house digital art.
Jim Harris
Dr. Jim Harris serves as an assistant professor and director of behavioral health in the Department of Social Work at Marshall University. He is also the owner of Opportunities Consulting Services. He has had several roles in health and human services as an early interventionist, parent educator, educational consultant, university instructor, and behavioral health therapist. Dr. Harris has presented at various conferences from the local to the international level on behavioral intervention, parenting, positive behavior support, trauma-informed practices, organizational change, and more. He has also worked with multiple public and private entities, including the Fred Rogers Company, the United States Department of Education, and the United States Department of Justice. Dr. Harris uses his practice approach to complex topics to help people better understand themselves and the people they support in their lives.
Rajia Hassib
Rajia Hassib is the author of two novels and several short stories and essays. Her first novel, In the Language of Miracles (Viking Penguin 2015), was a New York Times Editors’ Choice and received an honorable mention from the Arab American Book Award. Her second novel, A Pure Heart (Viking Penguin 2019), was one of Book Mark’s best-reviewed books of the week of its release. She has written for The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker Online, and Literary Hub. She teaches English and creative writing at Marshall University.
Glen Midkiff
Glen Midkiff is a living example of how resilience, determination, and the courage to take control of your story can transform your life. As Chief of Staff for Academic Affairs and Executive Director of the Rahal Center for Strategic Engagement at Marshall University, Glen is passionate about creating opportunities for students—especially first-generation college students—to realize their limitless potential.
Glen’s own journey was shaped by significant health challenges, but instead of allowing those obstacles to define him, he made a conscious decision to rewrite his story. Through sheer determination and the strength to rise above adversity, Glen proved that our circumstances don’t define us; our choices do.
Hannah Moore
Hannah Moore is a third-year doctoral student in clinical psychology (Psy.D.) at Marshall University and a supervised psychologist at Cabell Huntington Hospital Counseling Center. Her work focuses on providing comprehensive psychological services, including diagnostic evaluations and psychotherapy, while emphasizing a holistic approach to mental and physical well-being. Through her studies and practice, Hannah is passionate about breaking down the barriers that separate mental and physical health, advocating for an integrated vision of wellness that treats the whole person.
Jonathon Stanley
A lawyer by trade (and a student by nature), Jonathon C. Stanley, Esq. has dedicated his life to finding the true, good, and beautiful in the stories of literature and history. Mr. Stanley graduated from Brigham Young University with degrees in History, Russian, and anthropology, before graduating cum laude from Washington & Lee University School of Law. During these studies, he was awakened to the profound nature of myth–particularly, how myths which seem to divide cultures can actually unify them. He has since found his passion in immersing himself in literature and art from around the world.